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Every contractor who owns and maintains equipment must deal with the challenge of handling used oil and oil filters. Care must be taken during oil changes to prevent spills, and of course there are the issues of transport, storage and disposal.

Regulations on proper storage, handling and disposal can vary from state to state. “Contractors should check with the appropriate state agency that regulates used oil handling,” says Aaron Sage, COO, Sage Oil Vac, a manufacturer of on-site lube equipment. This information can be found at www.epa.gov/epahome/state.htm. “They may need to be registered as a used oil handler if they are handling more than 55 gal. of used oil to and from the jobsite.”

Many contractors that maintain equipment will be classified as used oil “generators” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is important, since there are certain rules generators must follow. Unless your shipments are less than 55 gal., you may need to use transporters with valid 12-digit EPA ID numbers for shipping used oil off site. But then you may still need a state or local permit.

There is also the issue of whether the oil will be classified as a hazardous waste. According to the American Petroleum Institute, the federal government does not consider used oil destined for recycling as hazardous waste. However, there are three states (California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island) that have classified it as such. These states require special handling for used oil.

Fortunately, there are firms specializing in hauling away used oil and filters. “Hopefully, [construction] companies are contracting with local transporters and collectors to recycle their used oil and oil filters,” says Jeremy Denton, executive director, Filter Manufacturers Council.